Car Accident

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you may be wondering what to do next. After the initial shock of having been rear-ended or hit by a distracted driver wears off, the question of “What do I do now?” sets in. After a car accident, these few tips will help in holding the responsible driver accountable.

Collect Contact Information – make sure to take down the contact information for the driver that hit you, their insurance company, and any witnesses. Do not trust that the police officer on the scene will be able to gather this information for you. Having witness contact information will help you should the at-fault driver try to deny liability.
Get the Medical Help you Need – most importantly after a car crash is to take care of yourself. Get the medical attention that you need. We often try to tough it out, as we all have busy lives and cannot afford to take time off. However, putting off medical care now can cause more harm in the future.
Gather Medical Bills – keep track of your medical bills. This includes receipts from your co-pays and explanations of benefits from your health insurance company. You will need these to help prove your losses.
Notify Your Insurance Company – even though you may not need your insurance since the other party was at-fault, you still need to notify your insurance company. Failing to do so can cause complications in the future.
Do Not Give a Recorded Statement – the insurance adjuster may try to pressure or bully you into giving a recorded statement. The adjuster may even tell you that you must give a recorded statement make a claim. This is not true. The adjuster is not looking to help your case but instead hurt your case in order to pay you as little as possible.
Do Not Sign Anything from the Insurance Company – you may be unknowingly signing away your rights. Have your attorney review anything from the insurance company before you sign it. This includes paperwork about your property damage claim.
Do Not Settle with the Insurance Company – the at-fault party’s insurance company is looking out for their best interest. The adjuster will work hard to pay as little as possible on your claim.
Do Not Post on Social Media About the Crash – what you say about the accident on social media can be used against you later. Think before you post.

Get the Legal Advice you Need after a Car Accident

What you do after a car accident can impact whether you are fully compensated for your damages. Contacting an attorney to help you through the process can take the pressure off of you and allow you to focus on getting back on your feet. These tips are meant to help you, but cannot take the place of an attorney who is familiar with your case and who is dedicating to helping you. Contact Chelsie King Garza today for a free consultation.